Hollywood Park: Obviously runs off to American Handicap victory

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Left alone on the lead, Obviously proved impossible to catch in Saturday’s $150,250 American Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park.

Third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita last fall, Obviously won in such fashion on Saturday that jockey Joe Talamo and trainer Mike Mitchell were dreaming of getting back to the same race this fall.

Obviously ($2.80) led by 1 1/2 lengths on the backstretch, through early fractions of 23.26 and 46.09 seconds, and pulled away in early stretch, winning by 2 1/2 lengths.

Lucayan, the winner of the French 2000 Guineas in 2012, finished second in his American debut, a neck in front of Barocci in a field of six.

Obviously ran a mile in 1:32.95 for his first stakes win since the Grade 2 Arroyo Seco Mile at Santa Anita last October.

“The main goal is to get him to the Breeders’ Cup,” Talamo said. “If he runs like that, I think he can.”

Talamo said he was confident that Obviously could carry his speed after he had an uncontested lead in the first half-mile and built an advantage of 3 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.
“I was so glad to see him go in 46,” he said. “He does it so easily.”

Mitchell said he was surprised that Obviously did not face an early challenge, but said that any rival who may have done so would not have been able to keep up.

Owned by Anthony Fanticola and Joe Scardino, Obviously, a 5-year-old gelding by Choisir, has won 7 of 14 starts and $668,361. The American was Obviously’s third stakes win.

Lucayan started for the first time since finishing last of eight in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein in France last October. Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Lucayan was last for the first half-mile and closed steadily to finish second.

Trainer Neil Drysdale said he was encouraged by the result, but praised Obviously.

“We could have some fun with him in the U.S.,” Drysdale said of Lucayan. “The winner will be very difficult to beat at a mile.”

6th straight race for Obviously in which the winner of the race(Obviously 4 times and others twice) produced a final time within 2/5ths a second of the track record(5 at a mile, once at 6.5).
Obviously is so consistently fast that he drags fields through early and internal fractions that leave them a solid finish away from a track record. Twice, in the Del Mar Mile(Obviously winning) and in the BC MIle(Wise Dan), the track records fell.
Obviously is just really good.

Jordan

More than 1 year ago

If the Shoemaker draws a legit grade 1 field, which will necessitate an Eastern horse like Data Link or Little Mike shipping out, I think Obviously will need to run the first half in about 45 and 2 to get enough separation to hold off quality closers. It would be a mistake to go 46 again in the Shoe because that would allow a horse like Data Link or Little Mike to be relatively close to Obviously entering the stretch, and I believe those horses would be able to run him down. If he goes 45 and 2 and then 108 and 4, he might be able to build enough of a lead to hold on.

Advance Plumbing

More than 1 year ago

A mortal lock today. Nice pk 4 payout

Mark D

More than 1 year ago

I love his bully style. Let him alone on the lead...you loose. Try to press the pace or duel him....you still loose.

MD23

More than 1 year ago

Mitchell said if he is pressured he doesn't like it. He said the horse likes to run by himself on a loose lead, but not with pressure. He was off a step slow and Maldonado on Chosen Miracle could have crossed over, cleared and then Martin Garcia on Racing Aptitude could have boxed Obviously iin, but both Maldonado and Garcia took back, Obviously went on and the race was over. The only way someone is going to beat him is if a trainer/owner combo put 2 horses in a race and 1 of them is a rabbit to sprint right alongside of him and pressure him for as long as possible. If you do that, you can beat him. If not, you are right; you will loose. Someone needs to pressure him.

Advance Plumbing

More than 1 year ago

Ya but there isnt anthing out ther in S Cal to do it. This horse was third behind wisw dan animal kingdom. Amortal lock today!!!!

MD23

More than 1 year ago

Agreed! There is nobody to go out to the lead with him.... at least with a legit chance. You need to sacrifice a horse to do that. By doing that you sacrifice any chance of winning the race.

Jordan

More than 1 year ago

Yep. There's one horse out there who can combine the tasks of a rabbit and a closer and still beat Obiously, and that horse is Wise Dan. For other turf milers, particularly those out West, there needs to be that rabbit that just goes out with the sole intent of screwing up Obivously. We simply don't know if Obviously can stalk or duel at a mile because we haven't seen it yet. Maybe he can, but I truly think he's best as a clear-off frontrunner.

Mr. Ed

More than 1 year ago

is it spell check or do most people really not know how to spell "lose".